Chocolate „Made in Poland”

According to the report published by the Polish chocolate manufacturer Wedel “The Global and Polish chocolate market”, based on Nielsen’s analyses, in 2022, Polish chocolate exports were in 3rd place in the world.

EU countries are chocolate giants. According to Eurostat, they account for 65% of the world’s exports of chocolate bars and chocolates. Poland has a 12% share in this and is likely to, in the future, overtake the Netherlands with its 13% share. Germany remains in first place with 680,000 tonnes and a 28% share.

The production of chocolate products accounts for as much as 80% of the global market, and is concentrated in just six countries of the European Union. Among them, Poland, which ranks 4th with a 7.1 percent share and a value of $2.4 billion, just behind Italy with a 7.4 percent share, Belgium and Germany.

The volume of production of chocolate products is also strongly influenced by the country’s home demand. In the case of the largest manufacturers of chocolate products, the inhabitants of these countries are very fond of consuming the product themselves.

In Poland, consumption amounts to 5.9 kg of chocolate per person, and by 2028 it is estimated to increase to 6.4kg.annualy

Export of Polish chocolate

We export our products mainly to Germany (10% of chocolate bar exports and 32% of chocolates), Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Romania. Out of the countries from outside the EU, the largest recipients of Polish chocolate products are the United Kingdom (15% of chocolate bars and 27% of chocolates), Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

The chocolate production sector in Poland still has good prospects for growth and further development. The largest, most well-known brands are joined by smaller manufactories, producing chocolate delicacies in more and more sophisticated and surprising flavours. Exports are mainly related to taste and price aspects. Polish products are so popular because of both the former and the latter. In addition, Polish manufacturers are getting better at promoting their products, are eager to present their products at exhibitions and fairs around the world, as well as actively entering the e-commerce markets.

Factors influencing the increase in the price of chocolate and chocolate products

The price of chocolate and chocolate products is strongly influenced by, among other things, inflation and the cost of obtaining the ingredients necessary for  production. These, in turn, are dependent on social and climatic factors. Cocoa is needed to make chocolate. It is obtained from cocoa beans, currently grown in about 50 countries. The countries with the largest share in cocoa production are: West African countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon (a total of 70% of the world market share), Ecuador and Indonesia. The factors influencing the size of  the harvest are dependent on nature and the economic climate. In the 2023/2024 season, weather anomalies related to the exceptionally strong impact of the El Nino current, which caused significant temperature increases in the equatorial part of the Pacific Ocean, was of great importance among the former. In the latitude region in Africa, where the largest cocoa producing countries  are located, this causes a significant reduction of precipitation and dry winds from the Sahara destroying flowering trees. In Ecuador, on the other hand, El Nino brought huge rain falls with strong wind gusts and floods degrading young tree pods. In Indonesia, droughts.

Economic factors include insufficient financial support for farmers related to the purchase of fertilizers or machinery, as well as the political instability of these countries.

Due to the accumulation of the above conditions, an exceptionally low harvest is expected in 2024, which will most likely result in a significant increase in the production costs of chocolate and chocolate products.

High nutritional value of chocolate

Our mood can be influenced by just the smell of chocolate. It is thanks to the cocoa content, that we talk about a positive effect on our body, on our concentration,  the way we cope with stress and fatigue.

It turns out that chocolate also has health benefits. We love it for its wonderful smell and taste. But also because it improves our mood, adds energy eliminating fatigue. It turns out that chocolate also has health benefits. Thanks to the following ingredients which are:

magnesium – supporting our nervous system and involved in the release of energy from food; carbohydrates – the most important source of energy that our brain feeds on;

Iron – responsible for the production of red blood cells and the distribution of oxygen in our body:

phenylethylamine – an ingredient from the group of endorphins, for which we especially love chocolate because endorphins improve our mood and give us a feeling of happiness:

flavonoids – increasing our resistance to infections and inhibiting the spread of the so-called bad cholesterol.

These are just a few of the more than 600 substances that have a positive effect on our health. Chocolate reduces the risk of heart attack by preventing blood clots. Thanks to the consumption of, especially dark chocolate, the level of antioxidants that protect our bodies from free radicals that damage cells increases. Thus, not only does it help our skin to age more slowly, but more importantly, it also has anti-cancer properties.

Therefore, even if its price increases, for the sake of our health and well-being, chocolate is always worth reaching for.

Sources: MRiRW World Chocolate Market Medicover